It is encouraging to see both House Democrats and Republicans working together to help solve the financial crisis in the mortgage market. However, as is always typical of both parties, they fail to agree on what should be done, and how to accomplish it. The wheels of government turn terribly slow, as we all know, and for many, it will be too late.

The biggest issue facing lawmakers is deciding who will qualify for assistance. Ray Suarez, a reporter for the Online News Hour, recently interviewed David Herszenhorn, a reporter for the New York Times. I found his words to hold special meaning. When asked about the difficulties lawmakers face, he said: “You know, the lawmakers are very mindful of this. Jeb Hensarling, a congressman from Texas, was saying, “How do I tell my constituent who scrimped and saved to put a 20 percent down payment and driving an old car, you know, so he can afford his house that I’m going to put his money at risk to bail out his next-door neighbor who took 100 percent loan for a house he couldn’t afford when the value went up, took another second mortgage to buy a brand-new truck, I’m going to bail out that guy?”

Which I think is the whole crux of the entire mess. No one can make a call as to who to help. Irresponsible home owners who took out an ARM on a home they could barely pay for before resets are in my opinion the people who should take the hit. Speculators who have bought homes to “flip” are also in the batch of people, and as in any investment situation, should have to absorb the risk like anyone else. It is the people who have made every sacrifice to insure they could make a decent down payment and have made their payments on time that should benefit, whether you want to call it welfare or a bailout. It will take some serious work. I do not see a solution for this at all in the near to mid future.